HIST 237(S) Modern France: From the French Revolution to Rioting Banlieues
Revolution, war, occupation and civil strife-these have been endemic in
France since the fragile birth of the first Republic in 1792. Why has this country,
known for its universal ideals of brotherhood, for its early emancipation of the
Jews, and for its impressive female activism during the heady days of the Revolution, given rise to the absence of a strong feminist movement in the contemporary era, unparalleled wars of colonial atrocity (Haiti, Vietnam, Algeria), and a
native pro-Nazi regime responsible for sending thousands of Jews to concentration camps during World War II? We will explore these questions while surveying French history from 1789 to the present, paying special attention to French
imperialism in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Toussaint l'Ouverture, Napoleon, Tocqueville, Dreyfus, Zola, DeGaulle,Ho Chi Minh, Senghor, Cartre, Camus, Beauvoir, Fanon, Cesaire. These will be some of our guides through
France's tumultuous present. French film, food, and music will enliven our discussions.
Format: lecture/discussion. Evaluation will be based on class participation, a
mid-term and final examination, and a 10- to 12-page research paper.
No prerequisites. No enrollment limit (expected 10-20). Open to all.
Group B